"In Europe we donâ€™t consider this tournament too much but I think itâ€™s getting better," Benitez told the Daily Mail. "You have more teams in the other continents getting stronger, and that will help. In 2010 with Inter Milan, we beat Mazembe of Congo in the final.

"I was laughing about this with Oscar as Mazembe played Internacional of Porto Alegre, his team, who were much better. It seemed they had to beat Mazembe but they lost. People in this continent, they bring good players and have good teams.

"The standards of the competitions are different, but the teams that win them are good. Monterrey are a good team, so these matches are tricky. The tempo is the key but if they can match our intensity they will make it difficult and then you never know.

"When you play a Brazilian team, in my experience they make it slow and wonâ€™t allow you to go quick.

"One day this tournament will be considered differently. There are teams around the world now, in Asia or any big country, they have money and pay big for players.

"Over time, the others will be much better. I remember having a conversation with a club and they said they wanted to win the league, then the Asian championship and then the Club World Cup. That was their target. Rich owners will spend money and the teams will be better. But they need time. The tempo in England and Spain is different, but in terms of players and technique they are good."